Glenn Phillips scores a 16-ball century against India

RATING JUSTIFICATION

The iVerify Pakistan team investigated the video and determined that it is false.

To reach this conclusion, iVerify Pakistan conducted a reverse image search to trace the original source.

Multiple Pakistani users on social media platform X shared videos since Tuesday claiming that New Zealand batter Glenn Phillips scored a century off just 16 balls, hitting sixes in succession against India. However, Phillips scored 107 runs off 49 deliveries.

India’s tour of New Zealand began on October 22, 2026, with a five-match Twenty20 International (T20I) series, followed by five One Day Internationals (ODIs) and two Test matches. The ODI series was scheduled to begin on November 4 in Auckland, with the final match set for November 15.

On Oct 30, New Zealand defeated India by 87 runs in the fourth T20I at Eden Park in Auckland. New Zealand posted 259-7 in their allotted 20 overs, while India managed 172-9 in response.

Phillips played a crucial role in the victory, scoring a century. New Zealand team also won the final T20I on November 1 by seven wickets. However, India clinched the five-match series 3-2.

HOW IT STARTED

On Nov 3, an X user who appeared to be a journalist, based on their profile bio and posts, shared a viral video showing Phillips hitting sixes against India, along with a scoreboard showing 100 runs off 16 balls.

The caption said: “New Zealand’s batsman Phillips smashed India with a barrage of boundaries, hitting 6 sixes in 1 over, and smashed a century off 16 balls.”

The post gained 552,200 views.

Today, another X user, who also appeared to be a journalist based on their bio and posts, shared the same clip with the following caption: “Two new world records. A century in 16 balls, six after six. New Zealand has set a new trend and completely thrashed India.”

The post garnered 45,300 views.

Subsequently, the video was shared by other users, as can be seen here, here, here, here, here, here, and here, collectively gaining 178,962 views.

METHODOLOGY

A fact-check was initiated to verify the claim due to its widespread circulation on social media and significant public interest in the purported record-breaking feat, particularly whether scoring a century in just 16 balls was possible.

A keyword search was conducted to determine whether any credible sports news outlets had reported the record-breaking century. However, no such reports were found.

A further keyword search for the fastest century in T20 international cricket revealed that Estonia’s Sahil Chauhan holds the record, reaching 100 runs in just 27 balls against Cyprus on June 17, 2024, as reported by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Meanwhile, South African cricketer AB de Villiers holds the record for the fastest century in ODI cricket, scoring 100 runs off 31 deliveries against the West Indies on January 18, 2015.

Furthermore, even if a batter hit six sixes in succession and scored a six off each of 16 deliveries, the total would amount to just 96 runs, falling four runs short of a century.

Further examination of the match scorecard on Cricbuzz revealed that Phillips scored 107 runs off 49 deliveries, hitting 10 sixes and six fours against India on October 30, 2026. The figures were also corroborated by a report published by the ICC, confirming that the viral claim of a century in just 16 balls was false.

FACT-CHECK STATUS: FALSE

The claim that New Zealand batter Glenn Phillips scored a century off just 16 balls against India is false.

Official match records confirm that Phillips scored 107 runs off 49 deliveries, including 10 sixes and six fours, during the October 30, 2026, T20I match against India.

EVIDENCE AND REFERENCES

Jun 17, 2024, International Cricket Council (ICC) report:
https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/world-record-knock-sees-fastest-ever-men-s-t20i-century-hit-off-just-27-balls

Guinness World Records website:
https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/650709-fastest-one-day-international-hundred

Cricbuzz website:
https://www.cricbuzz.com/live-cricket-scorecard/161223/nz-vs-ind-4th-t20i-india-tour-of-new-zealand-2026

Oct 30, 2026, International Cricket Council (ICC) report:
https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/phillips-duffy-inspire-new-zealand-to-big-win-over-india

This claim was investigated by Hazaran Rahim as part of the iVerify Pakistan fellowship programme with the Express Tribune